Ageless Smiles

Quest Johnson Orthodontics

Our teeth are probably the only thing on our faces that won’t get wrinkles…but our teeth certainly do show signs of aging. If you want to look younger and healthier, your teeth are a great place to start! 

As we grow older, many of us turn to expensive and invasive cosmetic treatments ranging from lip augmentations to facelifts in an effort to retain a youthful appearance. However, more and more adults, are now turning to less traumatic orthodontic treatments as an anti-aging tool and are gaining not just a beautiful smile, but some remarkable facial aesthetics, as well. By enhancing the alignment and widening the arch of the teeth, orthodontic treatment can create better facial balance and aesthetics, lending the appearance of fuller cheeks and lips, smoother and higher cheek contours, and broader smiles, as well as compensate for the inevitable loss of facial muscle over time. Simply put…orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. 

3 Easy Steps to take 10 Years off your Appearance 

Step 1 - Even if you were born with perfectly straight teeth, something called mesial drift will cause them to shift over time. Crowded teeth are an instant giveaway of age and straightening your teeth can often take years off your appearance. Crowded teeth also increase the risk of tooth decay, premature tooth loss, and gum recession, all of which show our age. 

Step 2 - Teeth naturally darken and yellow as we age. One reason is that your teeth absorb color from food and drinks. Whitening your teeth with custom whitening trays is the best way to achieve a deep and thorough color change that can take years off your appearance. 

Step 3 - Old-looking teeth have wear and tear. While we sleep, we gnash and grind our teeth. A night guard can protect your teeth from this damage and keep your teeth looking more youthful. A night guard also prevents crowding by keeping the teeth in place while you wear it. 

Fun Fact: A large percentage of our patients at Quest Johnson Orthodontics are adults and they all agree that it's never too late to improve your smile. 

Contact Our Mooresville orthodontic office to schedule your complimentary consultation and turn back the hands of time today!

 

Every Relationship Takes Work

Quest Johnson Orthodontics

...and the relationship between you and your braces is no different. 

You and your braces will become besties over the upcoming months.  There will be some bad days, but there will be lots of good days too. 

To prevent any ill feelings between you and your braces the team at Quest Johnson Orthodontics recommends...

Smoothing things over. When you first get your braces, sore spots may develop on your cheeks. To protect your cheeks, place wax on the bracket or wire. Rinsing with warm salt water several times a day is also very soothing to your gum and cheek tissues. Don’t worry…the soreness from your braces won’t last long, so try your best not to get mad at your braces.  

Avoiding sticky or hard foods. You don’t want to do anything that could cause your bestie harm. And even though it may seem like the best foods are the foods that are sticky and/or hard…sticky or hard foods can break a bracket or wire. 

Chewing with your back teeth. Taking a large bite of food with your front teeth can leave your braces vulnerable to damage. Cut large foods into smaller pieces and use your back teeth to chew.

Flossing. We know that it can be a pain to floss around your braces…your braces may even fight you on it.  But flossing is the best way to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. If you find flossing with braces difficult, don’t give up on it. There are tools that can help. Ask us about Floss Threaders. Floss Threaders definitely make flossing with braces much easier. Or use a Water Flosser; we have seen excellent results when these are used daily.  

You and your braces will go through a lot together. When all is said and done, you’ll smile at yourself in the mirror one day, remembering your braces fondly and you'll know that the relationship was totally worth all of the hard work.

National Nutrition Month: Smoothie Recipes

Here are at Quest Johnson Orthodontics, office-approved smoothie recipes that taste great and help you get the nutrients you need. We want to show you that eating healthy, delicious food is still possible after you’ve started your braces journey. Yes, there are certain points in your treatment process when your mouth might be more sensitive than usual, but that doesn't mean you don't get to enjoy a delicious meal or snack. Smoothies are the perfect solution for when chewing just doesn’t sound all that fun!

You can prep and freeze these 3 super quick and easy smoothie recipes. Choose your own base of yogurt, juice, milk, tea, or water and some ice to blend these ingredients up into something spectacular for your taste buds!

SWEET SUNRISE

• 1C Raspberries
• 1 Orange
• 1/2 Banana
• 1C Mango

KIWI REFRESH

• 1 Kiwi
• 1& 1/2C Watermelon
• 1 &1/2C Grapes

GREEN MONSTER

• 1 Grapefruit
• 1 Banana
• 1C Pineapple
• 1C Spinach

2 Common Bites in Orthodontics

Our smiles are uniquely ours. However so is our bite. “In orthodontics, “bite” refers to the way the upper and lower teeth come together. A bad bite, called a “malocclusion,” happens when teeth meet improperly, or they don’t meet at all,” according to the American Association of Orthodontist.

There are various bites that affect how we speak, eat and our overall mouth. Two common bites, orthodontic treatment can fix is a crossbite and underbite.

A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth. Can be caused by misalignment of teeth or a misalignment of the bone; can affect a single tooth or groups of teeth. Your jaw may shift to one side if not corrected and wears down on your tooth enamel.

An underbite happens when the lower jaw sits in front of the upper jaw. An underbite impacts tooth wear and adds a stress on your jaw joints. Through orthodontic treatment, these bites can be corrected and help keep you healthy, beyond an aesthetically pleasing smile.

The Right Age for Orthodontics

Orthodontists today can successfully correct most problems regardless of the patient’s age. But that does not mean that the orthodontic treatment starting age does not matter. In fact it may play a significant role in the total time and expenses required for the completion of the orthodontic treatment.

Children: The magic number is 7! The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7, for early detection of any potential problems. At this stage, we can spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth.

Teenagers: Most orthodontic problems are ideally treated during this time. Usually, all or most permanent teeth are present and patients are at one of their most active phases of growth. This is a great time to correct most problems, as the jaws are actively growing and their growth can be most easily modified during this time.

Adult: As we grow older, our teeth may shift and it may be necessary for an improved smile through orthodontic treatment. Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and it is never too late to improve your smile.

New Year, New Habits

It’s a new year, and that means new opportunities for adopting healthy habits, that will help our teeth. We love encouraging our patients to create a healthy oral hygiene routine. Here are 2 healthy habits to start doing everyday in 2020.

Floss - Floss, floss and more floss. We have all heard how flossing is beneficial, let’s all pledge to floss more in 2020. Getting kids involved in flossing will help them understand from a young age the importance of this healthy routine.

Change Your Toothbrush - When was the last time you switched out your toothbrush? American Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months. By switching out our toothbrushes, we can prevent bacteria, keep our mouth fresh and healthy.

Should You Get Invisalign? 2 Benefits of Invisalign

Serving our Mooresville community, our practice's top priority is to provide you with the highest quality orthodontic care in a friendly, comfortable environment. Having straight teeth is important not only for children but for adults as well. Straightening your teeth with the Invisalign system at Quest Johnson Orthodontics can treat common orthodontic problems thereby helping you maintain your dental health. It will also give you the smile you've always wanted!

Invisalign treatment is a technique that straightens your teeth without braces, using a series of clear, removable aligners that are custom-modeled to fit your teeth. The Invisalign aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable plastic that you wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements Drs. Quest and Johnson plan out for you.

If you are trying to decide if Invisalign is best for you, here are two Invisalign benefits to help you make a choice.

1. Food is Not an Obstacle: 
It is no secret the food restrictions that come with braces are a long list. There are certain foods you should avoid due to the harm it can cause to your braces and teeth. A benefit to Invisalign is, thanks to the removable clear aligners, you are able to eat without the normal restrictions of braces. You should still keep a healthy oral hygiene routine such as flossing and brushing your teeth.

2. Life Your Life Uninterrupted:
With Invisalign, you can live your life uninterrupted. Your aligners are easily removable, which will not get in the way of your activities such as sports, playing musical instruments or taking the perfect selfie. The Invisalign aligners make it easy to floss and brush your teeth. The aligners are additionally easy to be monitored by our doctors at Quest Johnson Orthodontics.